Athens Regional Specialty Services Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
PIEDMONT ATHENS REGIONAL SPECIALTY SERVICES, INC. ("ARSS") WAS INCORPORATED ON FEBRUARY 18, 2010. ARSS WAS FORMED TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF ATHENS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER BY STRIVING TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE GENERAL POPULATION OF THE AREA SERVED BY ENSURING THE AVAILABILITY OF QUALITY SPECIALTY MEDICAL SERVICES. ARSS CURRENTLY EMPLOYS 90 PHYSICIANS INCLUDING 60 SPECIALIZED PHYSICIANS WITH EXPERTISE IN CARDIOLOGY, OBSTETRICS, PSYCHIATRY, PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION, PEDIATRICS, HYPERBARIC MEDICINE AND GENERAL AND COLORECTAL SURGERY. ARSS PROVIDES SPECIALTY MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH ITS EMPLOYEE PHYSICIANS, REGARDLESS OF EACH PATIENT'S ABILITY TO PAY.
- Income
- $94.1 million
- Spending
- $100.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- -2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 76%
- Employees
- 428
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $4.4 million, board member & ceo, phc
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 116% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $98.8 million spent. SPECIALTY PHYSICIAN PRACTICES: THE 90 PHYSICIANS, INCLUDING 60 SPECIALIZED PHYSICIANS, OF ATHENS REGIONAL SPECIALTY SERVICES, INC. (ARSS) DELIVERED HEALTH CARE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY PROVIDING SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR 273,620 PATIENT VISITS IN THE 17 COUNTY NORTHEAST GEORGIA AREA SERVED BY ATHENS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, ARSS INC. PROVIDED $11,219,518 IN LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.